I run a RM2E game, now called Classic, and have problem determining for my players an area of effect for counter spells. As per SL any spell that is counter to or conflicts with another spell will cause a RR vs. the attack level of each spell. The winner being the spell that stands. The problem I am having is my players seem to think that a counter spell will only affect a spell where it overlaps the area of effect, and not counter the whole effect.
Ex1: Wall of Fire is countered by Wall of Water. Both have an Area of Effect (AOE) of 10'x10'6', but if one had a larger AOE due to spell casting, item, or ability, would they still fully counter each other.
Ex2: Light 10'r spell from Light Law can be countered by Dark on the same list.
On each example I told my players that if the spell was cast to counter the existing spell then it goes spell vs. spell. But in the case of spells like light vs. dark, and unless they were cast directly on each other, then they would have a fringe effect and then only the overlapping areas would be effected, such as a Thief using a ring of darkness in a magicly lit room
. As you might guess this has caused an argument of an all or nothing mentality.
So my question is simple, do I go with an all or nothing ruling, keep things as I have just stated, or am I wrong and there is a whole other way to handle this?
